Let's say I was buying a Bnew Banshee.....

Beat the crap out of it.....

Tell me what things will break in order of likelyness......

 

more than likey yourself if u want a honda instead

 

I'm not an owner of a Banshee, but I'd say you'll bend/brake tie rods and tie rod ends like crazy.

2001 Raptor (bone stock)
1988 Warrior (too many mods too list) (also in the shop :-()

 

Nah, on the tie rods and ends....My ends are still the stock ones from 1996...the tie rods have been replaced due to upgraded a-arms.
The banshee is as reliable as anything else if taken care of. I cannot think of anything that has just plain been a headache. Most of the people who have problems...are having problems in the tuning dept. The banshee can be finicky with the twin 2 stroke...dual carb setup. Plus...many people mod the heck out of them without thinking of the long term effects of the mods.
If I had to pick one thing that needs upgrading...It would be the chain adjustment procedure...Kind of time consuming...If you get it wrong and the rear end is crooked, your asking to throw a chain and possibly cause other damages.
Keep up with the oil changes...change/clean the filter often, use the zerks, Mix the gas and go. Out of all the quads that I have ridden, The banshee is the hardest hitting, most exhilarating ride you can get. Add some pipes and jet it. It becomes a new beast all over again.

Most people will say to upgrade your filter and airbox. I will agree that it is a hokey setup. But I will also say that I did not put a pro design w/ k&n on my bike until 2 years after bought it. I never had any problems with a loose filter or dirt in the engine. Oh well...I tend to be pretty tedious with the maintenance to begin with. I go through the whole quad after almost every ride.

 

90% of chance I will end up with a 400ex but I want to keep my options open.....

I have tested both quads(stock 400ex) and (fmf piped banshee)

400ex: This rides like nothing else out there... handling is 110% shyetload of low end(love those wheelies) RELIABLE like a honda.... Just fill it up with gas and check oil... seating position is perfect

Banshee: CRAZY AZZ WUPPING TOP END !!!! The power is brutal... almost scary....(hey! I said almost) plus I love the smell of 2stroke.. handling is nowhere near the 400ex but it's still much better than my present quad... nothing sounds as good as a bamshee.... Requires a little bit more attention ay low speed(woods)seating position is good but it just dont feel just as right as a 400ex

Main reason I wont get one: mixing fuel, new top end every 2 years, bruise under foot cuz of the f&cking kickstarter rebound(been there done that)
oil injection. Dont get me wrong, they are both GREAT machines I
In a perfect world: 400ex with a banshee motor, electric start and would buy both if I could but I think I like the 400ex better...

 

Cool...I hope we helped you with your choice.

but just to keep it lively [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
mixing fuel....ratio right
new top end every 2 years.....nah...unless you really beat it
bruise under foot cuz of the f&cking kickstarter rebound... boots [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

I have changed my top end once since 1996...I ride pretty hard.

 

I burned my legs on those FMF's btw... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Since riding seems to be such an inconvienance to you, maybe you should just buy a couple videos and watch them while sitting in a very soft chair.For real though, like FMF said (a trust worthy,informed gentleman) its no big deal to do a 2 hour top end job every 4 years or so, I mean come on and Mixing gas? Big deal, pour it out, pour it in and shake.Very, Very incedeantal for such performance.

 

Sorry, but I've gotta agree with gary, if you are worried about brusing your foot starting a banshee, you shoulnt be riding it! Only machine I've bruised my foot on was a CR500 and that was because it had the wrong kick-starter on it, it was too long and your foot would jam between the lever and foot peg... Personally I'd take a kick start before an electric, yeah it takes a little bit of work, but, you know it will always start and dont have to worry about stupid batteries, starters messing up, and walking home.. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

 

RIDING is bo an inconveniance for me at all.... NOT RIDING now youre talking !!!!

Man everything 2 stroke that I had owned has been a major pain.... I know that 2 stroke ARE faster cant argue with that but it's all the crazy maintenace..... you know all the little things.... like plugs going out when youre in the f#cking woods !!! then you stop at a gas station with youre friends and they just fill their 4strokes up and you standing there like a dumb *** asking the manager to borry a 5 gall to mix your gas...... During the winter.... stuck in a trail because it was "just a little too cold for my 2 stroke to run right"

It's just that I have had really bad experiences with 2strokes... is all